One of the habits I formed to lose weight [1] is cutting back, way back, on my alcohol consumption. I've discovered while heavy lifting [2], even one drink brings on the DOMS like crazy. My trainer said the body prioritizes metabolizing the alcohol [3] over repairing muscles or metabolizing fat. I wanted to jump back quicker from my hard workouts, so I stopped trying to decompress with liquor and started turning to an apple cider vinegar drink when a craving for a cocktail strikes.
This particular recipe (more like a ratio) calls for pouring 2 teaspoons of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar into an ice-filled cup and topping it with water. The process of making it feels just like a cocktail, and the tart flavor is slow-sipping, just like adult drinks. I participate in the ritual of cocktail hour without the negative side effects of alcohol. The traditional apple cider vinegar drink [5] calls for a little bit of sweetener, about 1/4 teaspoon honey or maple syrup, but I try to avoid eating added sugars at night when I'm slowing down and less likely to burn them off through movement.
I absolutely love the aftereffects of sipping on this mocktail. After generally feeling like a wrung-out towel at the end of the day, this ACV drink perks me right up [6], enough so that I can hop up and cook a legitimate dinner and do the dishes without dragging my heels. I also have noticed among apple cider vinegar's endless health benefits [7], it aids in digestion (aka moves things right along). It's said to aid in weight loss [8] too, which I know my dad can attest to. He was the one who introduced me to this ratio. After drinking this beverage three times a day, after three weeks, he lost eight pounds (without making any other diet or exercise changes).